JOB DESCRIPTION: Patient / Community Health Educator

I.QUALIFICATIONS

A. Education:Bachelor’s degree; an equivalent level of education and work experience will be considered.

B. Experience:One-year experience working with outreach projects and/or within a health care setting preferred.

C. Knowledge and Ability: Able to communicate courteously and effectively with patients of all ages.

Able to work within a team concept, maintaining positive and constructive interactions with staff at all levels of the organization. Able to work independently. Skilled in handling multiple tasks and priorities. Must maintain a high level of confidentiality. Must have proficiency in computer skills including, but not limited to email functions, spreadsheets, and document processing. Knowledge of the health and human services infrastructure, health insurance programs and public health coverage options preferred.

  1. Typical Physical Demands: Requires prolonged sitting, some bending, stooping and stretching. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, photocopier, telephone, calculator and other office equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to record, prepare and communicate appropriately. May require occasional lifting up to 25 lbs.

E.Standards of Conduct: Each employee is responsible for conducting themselves in an ethical manner, and reporting possible violations to the appropriate channels. Employees must be careful in both words and conduct to avoid placing, or appearing to place, pressure on subordinates or co-workers that could cause them to violate these standards of conduct or to deviate from accepted norms of ethical business practice.

II.FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Patient/Community Educator is responsible to the…

•Assess the needs of the people and communities they serve

•Develop programs and events to teach people about health topics

•Teach people how to cope with or manage existing health conditions

•Evaluate the effectiveness of programs and educational materials

•Help people find health services or information

•Provide training programs for other health professionals or community health workers

•Supervise staff who implement health education programs

•Collect and analyze data to learn about their audience and improve programs and services

•Advocate for improved health resources and policies that promote health

Community health workers do the following:

•Provide outreach and discuss health care concerns with community members

•Educate people about the importance and availability of healthcare services, such as cancer screenings

•Collect data

•Report findings to health educators and other healthcare providers

•Provide informal counseling and social support

•Conduct outreach programs

•Ensure that people have access to the healthcare services they need

•Advocate for individual and community needs

•Create programs and materials about health issues for the community that their organization serves.

•Obtain funding and other resources.

•May design a program to teach people with diabetes how to better manage their condition or a program for teen mothers on how to care for their newborns.

•Work on securing grant funding for programs to promote health and disease awareness.

•Other duties as requested

B.Expectations

  1. Must be able to travel with use of personal vehicle.
  2. Must possess the ability to read and interpret documents.
  3. Must possess the ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
  4. Must possess the ability to speak effectively before groups and actively engage the general public in outreach situations.
  5. Must possess the ability to interact with diverse cultural and socioeconomic populations.

C.QUALITY ASSURANCE

1.Participate in the development, implementation, audit, and continuous

evaluation and improvement of protocols, services and programs

provided by the health center.

D.OTHER

1.Works with Directors/Managers/Supervisors of MHC, insuring continued regulatory compliance and success of organizational goals, objectives and strategic plan.

It is expected that you will meet the productivity standards that are set forth by your Supervisor and/or MHC protocols.

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I have reviewed this job description and understand all of the required aspects of this position.

JOB DESCRIPTION REVIEWED:

______AS NEW HIRE ______OTHER

______AT TIME OF ANNUAL EVALUATION

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